Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
A HOMELESS woman, who is sleeping in the open with her three kids in Mount Pleasant, Harare, could be on the verge of getting a helping hand — thanks to her plight being published in H-Metro.
A number of Zimbabweans, including some who are based outside the country, have been touched by Nyarai Dimingo’s plight and want to help her and her children.
Already, the Mt Pleasant community has begun helping the family.
A charity organisation has also got in touch with H-Metro, after reading about her plight, and has started the process to help Nyarai and her family.
When she told us about her story, her homelessness after her former employer sold the house where she worked, and her family lived, her main concern was about her daughters.
She said they were being targeted by some sex predators who wanted to abuse her.
And, this is what has touched many who now want to help her.
“H-Metro, I have been touched by the homeless woman with children who are being exposed to the cold weather and abuse.
“Check with her if nothing has materialised, she can look for a room to rent and I pay.
“I will assist with money to start her business so as to run away from the abusers,” said Dorothy who is based outside the country.
A local female church leader has also offered to take Nyarai and her children to her farm and pay school fees for the kids if she is willing and is cleared by Social Welfare Department.
“I am willing to assist her if she is cleared by Social Welfare since she is claiming to be failing to locate her relatives.
“There is need to protect the children,” she said.
H-Metro visited Nyarai again yesterday.
The young boy lay beside her.
He finally drifted into sleep with his small hand curled around his mother’s wrist.
Nyarai was a caretaker in Westgate house.
Then, one day, her life changed when the house was sold.
At first there had been meetings and promises—words that sounded like warmth but never touched her.
Later, there was only silence.
The locks changed.
The keys were no longer hers.
And when she asked what she was supposed to do, the answer she received felt like a slap disguised as policy: YOU’RE NOT NEEDED!
So, she moved on—into the open place.
Now, on the cold nights of Mount Pleasant, she tried to make her body into a blanket for her children.
Then, the horror started.
It started with the street kids.
“If I can get a job at salons, I am able to do hair styles.
“Life is tough here, especially in the dead of the night,” she said.
Help could be on the way but no one knows how quickly it will arrive.
H-Metro Editor, Robson Sharuko, said the mere fact that Nyarai has started receiving a ray of hope is something the newspaper can be proud of.
“I think we have a reputation out there as a scary tabloid which is only about sex, heartbreaks, criminals and things like that,” he said.
“But, this story about Nyarai and her family shows that we are more than that and so much more.
“It shows that we also carry a responsibility to serve our people and our communities and it’s also good that what we are publishing is also being read out there.
“Hopefully, she will get the help very soon because she really needs it.”
